After the alleged killing of Hamas leader Saleh al-Aruri in Lebanon, allegedly carried out by Israel, the Hezbollah militia has promised retaliation. The "crime" in Beirut is "a dangerous attack on Lebanon" and its people and security, the militia announced on Tuesday evening. "This crime will never go unanswered or unpunished." Hezbollah has "its finger on the trigger" and its fighters are "on high alert". When asked about reports of the targeted killing of Al-Aruri, Israel's military declined to comment.
The Shiite movement stated that Israel is unable to "subdue" Gaza after three months of war, and therefore resorts to methods such as assassinations. The death of Al-Aruri is a continuation of the killing of senior Iranian general Seyed Rasoul Mousavi, who recently died in an alleged Israeli airstrike in Syria.
According to Hamas, Al-Aruri and two leaders of their Kassam Brigades, the armed wing of the group, were killed in Beirut on Tuesday. According to Lebanon's state news agency NNA, a total of six people were killed.
On the same evening, Hezbollah launched its first attack on Israel following Al-Aruri's death. The militia announced that they had attacked a group of Israeli soldiers near the border, resulting in deaths and injuries. The regular exchange of fire between Hezbollah and the Israeli army near the border has increased since the start of the Gaza war three months ago.